Survey: Stress is top workforce health risk

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Stress is the No. 1 workforce health issue, ranking above physical inactivity and obesity, according to the 2013/2014 Towers Watson Staying@Work Survey. However, only 15% of employers identify improving employees’ emotional and mental health—by reducing stress and anxiety—as a top priority of their health and productivity programs.

Part of the problem: An apparent disconnect between how employees view stress and how their employers respond.

But employers rank the top three causes of workplace stress as lack of work/life balance (86%), inadequate staffing (70%) and technologies that expand employee availability during nonworking hours (63%).

Employers report that they promote their employee assistance programs (EAP) (85%), provide access to financial planning information and services (61%) and offer flexible working options (51%) to help employees manage stress. While employers feel that the EAP is a primary way to address stress issues, only 5% of employees say they use this resource. Also, only about four in 10 employers (39%) offer employees overt stress management interventions such as workshops and seminars.